Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2024)

COVER FEATURE

ARC KEEPING

THE CARGO ROLLING

With a ? eet of nine U.S.-? ag RoRo ships, American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier

Group (ARC), is the U.S.’ premier commercial RoRo carrier of U.S. government and military cargo. As the world becomes an increasingly contentious place,

Eric P. Ebeling, President & CEO, ARC, discusses the vast capabilities of the

ARC ? eet and logistics network, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead for U.S.-? ag ships in the international trade.

By Greg Trauthwein y the numbers’ is a simplis- “We’ve fully recapitalized our ? eet portant that that program stays strong tic means to gauge the size since 2016; that’s eight ships we’ve and stable,” he said. and shape of any shipping brought into the U.S.-? ag ? eet and the The latest vessel to enter the ? eet ‘

Bcompany, and ARC, with its Maritime Security Program (MSP) and is the M/V ARC Honor, a 230-m long nine U.S.-? ag RoRo ships in the ? eet, Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agree- RoRo with with a 6.5-m high stern its 64 shoreside employees and 350 ment (VISA) since 2016,” said Ebeling. opening and a stern ramp rated for

American merchant mariners, ranks at “A lot of work goes into ? nding the cargo weighing up to 320 MT, the com- the top as the largest U.S.-? ag RoRo right ships with the right capabilities. pany’s fourth U.S.-? ag LCTC (large car operator. But the numbers only tell part It’s exciting and you have to make a truck carrier) vessel. of the story and ARC is not only a ship- business case to make those kinds of According to Heibel, the characteris- owner. ARC is a multi-modal logistics investments too, because you’re talking tics that make the ARC ? eet stand out services company built to serve primar- about 30-year assets that cost hundreds are the door and deck heights and the ily the needs of the U.S. government of millions of dollars.” strengthened ramps and decks to ac- transporting heavy lifts of government ARC is focused on acquiring and commodate volumes of heavy military machinery globally, predominantly operating the most militarily useful kit. into Northern Europe as of the last few and commercially viable ships for its “We need a high main deck to years. military, and commercial customers, accommodate certain aviation as-

Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, too. Via its participation in the U.S. sets and projects” said Heibel. “For

FL, ARC ships sail primarily out of government MSP and VISA programs, example, every aviation brigade has three U.S. base ports (Baltimore, ARC guarantees capacity to the U.S. the Chinooks, and if you can’t carry the

Brunswick and Galveston), today sail- government, and in the most recent Chinooks, you can’t carry the brigade. ing primarily into three key Northern year around 55% of ARC’s revenue It also helps us to carry certain project

European ports (Antwerp, Southampton was from ocean cargo carried for government and commercial cargoes and Bremerhaven). ARC has operated the U.S. government, said Christian for the ‘high and heavy’ market, which in the transatlantic trade for more than Heibel, SVP Commercial, ARC. “The includes mining, agricultural and con- 35 years. Sitting at the helm is Eric P. underlying bedrock maritime program struction equipment.”

Ebeling, long-term with the company for the international U.S. ? ag ? eet is While each ship in the ARC ? eet and President & CEO since 2015. the Maritime Security Program; it’s im- has its own capabilities, Heibel was 26 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2024

MR #2 (18-33).indd 26 2/6/2024 9:14:07 AM